What to Check Before Buying a Second-Hand Car

If you have been yearning for getting on the road for a very little cost, then getting yourself a second-hand car is the perfect way to go about it. But one major disadvantage of this is that it does not offer guarantees on the quality and reliability that you can get from the said car. This is because the car must have been around for quite some time and maybe it has been involved in some accidents.

But by making some key checks on the car that you want to purchase, you will have the opportunity to gauge how reliable it can be. Below, we highlight some of the crucial things that you should check before purchasing a second-hand car.

History

This is the first thing that you should check when purchasing a second-hand car. Before getting into any serious engagements, if the second-hand car dealer that you are engaging in is reliable, he/she must be able to give you a rundown of the origin of the car and the number of accidents that it has been involved in if any. Do not fall for the common trick that salespersons use that it has been used by one elderly person, instead ask as many questions as possible, so that you are clear on everything.

Inspection

It is very important that before you purchase a second-hand car that you inspect it properly. Additionally, it is important that you go along with your mechanic when you are undertaking the inspection. Inspect during the day, when it is dry. Ensure that the car is parked on a level surface and that it has not been driven for at least an hour to inspection time.

Exterior

When it comes to inspecting the exterior, here are the things that you should look at:

1. Body form

Carefully inspect the car to establish whether it has any dents, rust or any scratches. Ensure that the paint is uniform on each body panel as any waviness indicates that it has undergone some paint work.

2. Glass

Another aspect of a used car that you should take a close look at is the glass. If the windows have tiny chips and nicks, then you need not be too much concerned but instead, use it as a bargaining point to lower the overall price, but if the car has cracks on the windscreen then avoid it as it will cause more problems in the future.

3. Suspension

This should be done when the car is standing level. You need to bounce each corner down, to establish whether the shock absorbers are working properly or not.

4. Lights and lenses

Check on the reflectors and lenses to ensure that they are intact and have no cracks. Switch on and off to ascertain that all the lights are working properly.

5. Seats

Ensure that you at least try out all the seats in the car. Also, try out all seat belts and ensure that all of them are adjustable. Some of the other things that you should check include the roof, the engine fluids, trunk, radiator, the sound system, plus the exhaust system.